#264968
homebild
Participant

First thing to consider is if you have enough attic ventilation.

A rule is 1 square foot of attic intake and 1 square foot of attic exhaust ventilation for every 150 square feet of attic floor space.

If your ranch home is 26 x 50 feet your attic floor space is 1300sf. You would then need at least 8.7 sq of attic intake and 8.7 sq ft of attic exhaust minimum to cool the attic.

Unless your current intake and exhaust meets or exceed this amount, adding ventilation should be your first move.

Second, ridge vents have been found to become ineffective in venting attics depending on the type. ‘Roll” vents made up of mesh and vents that use plastic mesh can and do clog with dust and debris rendering them of little or no effect.

Having an older type ridge vent can often be no vent.

Check your and change it if needed.

Turbine vents provide the best and most attic ventilation but these also need to be combined with adequate intake vents for proper function. But your wife probably won’t like the ‘whirlybirds’ sitting on your roof.

Radiant barriers could keep your attic cooler but actually increase the temperature above the barrier lierally cooking your roof deck and shingles decreasing the life span of each.

Power vent fans can work if used in conjunction with proper intake vents, but they are costly to operate and will likely be on all the time in your region.